Topical Questions 2024-12-12
2024-12-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The department has been active in international investment and business strategy over the last six months.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. The Department for Business and Trade had a record-breaking international investment summit and published an industrial strategy Green Paper, helping to land a £500 million train-building deal with Hitachi. They are reforming business rates and launching a new fair payment code.
The Department for Business and Trade has been engaging with businesses big and small to drive growth, helping to land deals like a £500 million train-building deal with Hitachi. We are reforming business rates and launching a new fair payment code.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Superbowl UK has just opened in Aldershot, but the loss of M&S outlet is mourned.
What can the Government do to assist communities such as mine to ensure that we can encourage businesses to be the cornerstone and footfall drivers of our town centres? Superbowl UK recently opened in Aldershot.
The Government recognises the need for high streets to transition into a mix of retail, hospitality and leisure. There is great practice around the country on delivering that transition.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific actions or funding not provided
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK has joined the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership, including major trading partners such as Japan and Canada.
Will the Secretary of State update the House on when he expects to conclude free trade deals with the Gulf, with India and with the US? The UK has recently joined a major trading bloc.
The talks for the Gulf Co-operation Council deal are progressing well. Regarding the US deal, negotiations depend on the new President-elect's stance.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific deadlines not provided
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Business confidence is at an all-time low, with hiring collapsing and companies fleeing.
Will the Secretary of State urge the Prime Minister to stop obsessing about going backwards into the EU and agree that a US trade deal would be the best gift for British business? Business confidence is at an all-time low.
The US is a major trading partner but so is the EU. The impact on agriculture and other key markets must be considered holistically.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to US trade deal not provided
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
The First Minister of Wales announced that Wales will hold its own major investment summit next year.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that this demonstrates the power of two Labour Governments working together in partnership to deliver economic growth for the communities we represent? Wales is planning a major investment summit next year.
I support the news from Wales. We have a strong relationship with the Welsh Labour Government on issues like Port Talbot, and we will work together to deliver economic growth.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The EU's new regulation on general product safety will take effect, with concerns about additional costs impacting small businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland.
Tomorrow—on Friday the 13th—the EU's general product safety regulation comes into effect. Businesses are telling me that the additional costs will mean that they can no longer sell to the EU and to Northern Ireland. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that small businesses are supported as the regulation comes into effect?
As the hon. Lady rightly pointed out, the regulation covers things that most businesses are doing already, but we have provided guidance for businesses, including online marketplaces, on how the regulation will apply in Northern Ireland. We will continue to engage with businesses and online marketplaces to ensure that we are supporting them in dealing with this new regulation.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or measures for support beyond general engagement.
General Engagement
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK has significant geological reserves of critical minerals, including in Cornwall. The all-party parliamentary group on critical minerals is active.
I declare an interest as an officer of the all-party parliamentary group on critical minerals. Although Cornwall sits on some of the richest deposits of critical minerals in the world, including tin and lithium in my constituency of Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, there are significant geological reserves right across the United Kingdom, including in the north of England, Northern Ireland and the lands of our Celtic cousins in Wales and Scotland. Will the Minister confirm that domestic critical mineral production and processing will form a key part of the Government's industrial strategy?
I welcome my hon. Friend's question, and I welcomed the time we spent together at South Crofty tin mine, which was also one of my favourite visits of the year. This is a hugely exciting area, and the opportunities for his area are particularly exciting.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm that domestic critical mineral production will form a key part of the industrial strategy, instead focusing on personal visit experiences.
Personal Experience
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Farmers in Calum Miller's constituency maintain high animal welfare standards. There is concern that these could be undercut by future UK-US trade deals, similar to previous agreements.
Farmers in my constituency maintain the highest animal welfare standards. They want reassurance that those will not be undercut by any future UK-US trade deal as they were by some of the deals done by the previous Government. Will the Minister assure me that the mandate and the detail of a trade deal will come to the House before the Government sign it, as many Members on the Government Front Bench agreed when they were in opposition? If not, why not?
There is an established process in taking forward the Government's discussions in relation to the mandate. On animal welfare standards, the Secretary of State has already alluded to how there was clearly considerable divergence during the previous attempts to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to bringing deal details before signing, instead referencing past divergences.
Reference To Past
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Businesses in Norwich face challenges in attracting skilled staff, a concern also raised by the Norfolk chamber of commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.
In Norwich, we have many amazing businesses such as the Norwich Glass Company, Café 193 and Great Eastern Model Railways that I visited recently. One of the challenges that they, the Norfolk chamber of commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses have raised is attracting skilled staff. Will the Secretary of State set out how the Government's skills plan will support such businesses to attract the staff they need?
I recognise what my hon. Friend is saying in her question, which is that skills will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest issue for businesses going forward.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify how the skills plan supports businesses to attract staff.
General Statement
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Local businesses in Mid Sussex are working on a plan to build a science and technology park that would create over 5,000 high-value jobs, but this project is pending release of funds by the Department for Transport.
I am sure that the Secretary of State agrees that creating high-value jobs in science and technology is important. In local business, our local plan gives us the opportunity to build a science and technology park delivering over 5,000 high-value jobs, but we cannot proceed until the Department for Transport releases funds for local highway improvements. Will the Secretary of State press the Secretary of State for Transport to take action so that work can progress and we can deliver jobs and growth in Mid Sussex?
The hon. Member's question is perhaps more for the Secretary of State for Transport, but she skilfully put that to me.
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Assessment & feedback
Shifted responsibility to another department without addressing specific ask.
Shift Of Responsibility
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
A recent study showed that many small businesses in the north-east plan to increase their investment in technology next year. The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is launching an inquiry into innovation, growth, and regions.
Last week, research published by Sage showed that 84% of small businesses in the north-east plan to increase their investment in technology next year. As the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee launches its inquiry into innovation, growth and the regions, how will the Business Secretary ensure that the industrial strategy boosts adoption of technology—particularly British-developed technology—to boost growth across all our regions?
My hon. Friend will be aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently announced £20.4 billion in investment for research and development for the next year, which will help to drive even more of the type of technological investment that she rightly champions.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify how industrial strategy will support technology adoption specifically.
General Statement
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Businesses in Alison Griffiths' constituency are concerned about the Bank of England's business confidence survey, indicating a poor economic outlook.
Businesses in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are at the sharp end of the Bank of England's business confidence survey. Unlike the Chancellor and the Secretary of State, they know that her Budget and the Employment Rights Bill are a recipe for higher prices, higher inflation, higher interest rates and higher unemployment. Is that the growth that the Secretary of State had in mind?
We have had seven or eight of the same question from the Opposition Benches, and not a single answer to how they would pay for the promises that they make. We are getting on with fixing the foundations, looking to the future and improving the business environment across the board.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address businesses' concerns about economic outlook.
Criticizing Opposition
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from a consultation on job cuts at Alexander Dennis in the Falkirk constituency, citing an unlevel playing field for domestic manufacturers.
I declare an interest as co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on British buses. The Secretary of State will be aware of the consultation on 160 jobs at Alexander Dennis in my constituency. That shows the requirement for a clear industrial strategy. What assurances can the Minister give me, as part of implementing the industrial strategy, that the Labour Government are working to level the playing field for domestic manufacturers?
I recognise the issue and I welcome my hon. Friend's raising it at the annual dinner of the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It matters to this Government that we make these products in the UK. There have been specific procurement issues, mainly with local areas. I promise him the meeting that he needs to take that forward, but I assure him that the industrial strategy will cover this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
The minister did not provide specific assurances or concrete actions related to the implementation of an industrial strategy for domestic manufacturers.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent, Kirsty, who is self-employed and looking to adopt a child, does not qualify for adoption leave or adoption pay. This highlights the need for parental rights reform.
My constituent Kirsty is self-employed and is looking to adopt a child, but she does not qualify for adoption leave or adoption pay and, because she is not having her child biologically, she does not qualify for maternity allowance. Would the Government support changing that, whether through the Employment Rights Bill or otherwise, so that brilliant future parents are not put off from adopting because they cannot afford it?
That is an interesting question. There is a great interplay with rights for self-employed people. We are committing to a review on that in due course, together with a wider look at the parental leave system. We will get back to the hon. Lady on that.
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Assessment & feedback
The minister did not commit to supporting changes or provide a specific timeline for implementing new policies regarding adoption leave and pay.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The government has committed to increasing disposable income for working people, and at Christmas time many may want to buy concert tickets. The question highlights issues in the secondary ticketing market.
I welcome this Government's commitment to getting more disposable income in the pockets of working people. At Christmas time a lot of people will want to buy concert tickets; what conversations is the Minister having with Cabinet colleagues on reforming the secondary ticketing market?
Hopefully, we will make an announcement very shortly about plans in that area.
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Assessment & feedback
No concrete details or timeline for reform were provided.
Too Early To Say
Response accuracy