Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 13 March 2025 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Griffith asked about the status of the UK-US trade deal, particularly regarding steel and aluminium tariffs, and the Secretary of State declined to publish negotiating red lines.
  • Jo Platt inquired about support for social enterprises and co-operatives, and the Minister confirmed the Government's commitment to doubling the size of the co-op and mutuals sector.
  • Ellie Chowns requested a meeting regarding a planning moratorium in her constituency due to water pollution issues, and the Secretary of State agreed to work with her to address the issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Griffith Con Arundel and South Downs
Business & Trade
Context

The US has announced steel and aluminium tariffs without any exemptions, affecting UK businesses that depend on trade with the United States.

Question

Over 1 million jobs in this country depend on trade with the United States, including thousands of jobs in our steel industry. The Secretary of State does not know when he is going to get a deal. Will he publish his red lines for that deal, his objectives and what he hopes to achieve from meetings next week?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Jonathan Reynolds)

On steel and aluminium tariffs, the US Administration’s position is that there are no exemptions for anybody—that is across the board. I think they recognise the very strong case that we have, but that is their position. No, I will not publish my negotiating red lines before a negotiation. Frankly, that is the worst advice I have ever heard in the House of Commons. The Conservative party fell out with the EU, would not deal with China and could not do a deal with India. It fell out with the United Arab Emirates and could not do a deal with the Gulf. It got nothing out of the US. It did deals with Australia and New Zealand, then disowned them. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.

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Q2 Jo Platt Labour (Co-op) Leigh and Atherton
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Social enterprises contribute significantly to the UK's economy, with towns such as Leigh and Atherton benefiting greatly from their activities.

Question

Social enterprises contribute 3.4% of GDP, and towns such as Leigh and Atherton benefit greatly from them. Will the Minister outline what the Department is doing to support social enterprise and co-operatives so they can contribute to the growth agenda in the UK?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Gareth Thomas)

My hon. Friend is a great champion of the social enterprise sector. She will know that we are committed to doubling the size of the co-op and mutuals sector. We recently met the recently launched mutuals and co-op business council to begin working with businesses on our plans to expand the co-op and mutuals sector. She may also be aware that our social enterprise boost fund is currently spending some £4 million on helping to support social enterprises that are already up and running.

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Q3 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Economy Environment
Context

A planning moratorium has been in place for more than five years due to water pollution issues, affecting the local construction industry by an estimated half a billion pounds.

Question

In my constituency, a planning moratorium has been in place for more than five years due to water pollution, with an estimated effect on the local construction industry of half a billion pounds. Will the Secretary of State meet me and representatives of the Herefordshire construction industry to try to find a solution to this devastating problem?

Answer from Jonathan Reynolds

The frustration that comes across in the hon. Lady’s question relates to exactly the sort of problem the Government are fixing. I would be more than happy to work with her and any Secretary of State or Department necessary to unblock that for her.

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Q4 Julia Buckley Lab Shrewsbury
Business & Trade
Context

A local company in Shrewsbury is looking to expand and grow significantly, seeking support from the Government for expanding into the Philippines.

Question

Will the Minister outline what steps the Department is taking to help increase trade with the Asia Pacific, and in particular the Philippines, where a major local company in my constituency, Beaver Bridges, is hoping to expand and grow significantly, with the trade support of this Government?

Answer from Douglas Alexander

I happen to be meeting the Philippine Government next week, although alas in London, not in Manila. The Department is working hard to agree a Government-to-Government financing framework partnership. That is just part of the work we have under way. If I can be of direct assistance to my hon. Friend and to her local business, I will of course be happy to speak to her.

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Q5 Lauren Edwards Lab Rochester and Strood
Business & Trade Women & Equalities
Context

The invest in women taskforce aims to drive investment in female-powered businesses, highlighting the importance of having a minimum level of female representation on investment committees.

Question

The invest in women taskforce aims to drive investment in female-powered businesses at every stage. That includes putting more money in the hands of female investors, as we know that women back women. Does the Minister agree that one solution to tackling the gender disparity in investment decision-making roles is to set a minimum level of female representation for all investment committees that receive British Business Bank funding?

Answer from Justin Madders

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is a strong correlation between the proportion of women on an investment committee and the proportion of female founders receiving investment. My Department leads on the investing in women code, whose 270 signatories commit to supporting female entrepreneurship. One of the key metrics we check is the gender balance on investment committees and investment teams.

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Q6 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Employment Transport
Context

Over 100 jobs have been lost in Falkirk since September due to the previous Government's failure to keep their commitments to the bus manufacturing sector.

Question

Over 100 jobs have been lost in Falkirk since September due the previous Government’s failure to keep their commitments to the bus manufacturing sector. We need a plan for bus manufacturing. Has the Minister engaged with the Department for Transport, the bus manufacturing industry or regional mayors, prior to launching the UK bus manufacturing expert panel?

Answer from Sarah Jones

My hon. Friend asks a very good question. I am very pleased that the Department for Transport today launched the new UK bus manufacturing expert panel. We need to support our bus manufacturing, both for the transition to net zero and for building our businesses in the UK.

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