Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Start-ups and Scale-ups: Access to New Markets

Thursday 12 March 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial focus is on helping start-ups and scale-ups access new markets through tailored market advice, free training, export finance, and on-the-ground support.
  • The Minister highlighted the success of London Fashion Week and the increase in international buyers, showcasing British talent and business potential.
  • The Minister acknowledged the importance of the free trade agreement with India for British and Indian growing technology companies, as mentioned by Rishi Sunak.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rosie Wrighting Lab Kettering
Business & Trade
Context

The MP questioned the government's efforts to support local businesses in accessing new markets.

Question

What steps he is taking to help start-ups and scale-ups access new markets.

Answer from Chris Bryant

We want to build new opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups to export around the world. That is why we are providing tailored market advice, free training through our business academy, export finance and support on the ground in international markets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify any concrete steps or initiatives.

How: Providing General Support Statements Without Specifics

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Q2 Rosie Wrighting Lab Kettering
Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlighted the recognition of British fashion talent at London Fashion Week and the 17% increase in international buyers, questioning the government's support for fashion brands to translate creativity into export growth.

Question

British fashion is recognised globally for its creativity. At the London Fashion Week just gone, designers such as Erdem, Tolu Coker and Simone Rocha showcased the very best of British talent. With international buyers up by 17%, we showed that we have not only the raw talent here, but the business minds to commercialise it internationally. What steps is the Department taking to help emerging British fashion brands translate that creativity into export growth and scale internationally?

Answer from Chris Bryant

My hon. Friend makes a really good point by raising the example of London Fashion Week. She is quite right that lots of businesses in Northamptonshire are working in this field. One key thing we do through NEWGEN is to provide support to people—including, in fact, some of those she mentioned, such as Erdem and Simone Rocha—to start finding new export markets overseas. We send people to Paris Fashion Week and to Pitti Uomo, and our creative industries are a really important part of how we intend to build on that in the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific support measures or initiatives.

How: Providing General Support Statements Without Specifics

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Q3 Rishi Sunak Con Richmond and Northallerton
Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

The MP welcomed the Minister's previous comments on the India AI summit and the free trade agreement, expressing appreciation for the Government's role in securing it.

Question

At the recent India AI summit, I was delighted to participate in an event, with the Deputy Prime Minister, highlighting the opportunities for British and Indian growing technology companies to do more in each other's markets. I am looking forward to another such event in London in the coming weeks. Will the Minister join me in commending both our high commissioners—Their Excellencies Lindy Cameron and Vikram Doraiswami—for their steadfast commitment to strengthening the links between our two fantastic technology sectors?

Answer from Chris Bryant

The right hon. Gentleman makes a really good point. I noticed that he was commending the Government for securing the free trade agreement with India, which previous Governments were not able to secure, and he did so generously. Mr Speaker, I may have misled the House previously by suggesting that the India free trade agreement would enter into force this summer, because I am very hopeful that it will actually enter into force this spring.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific ask regarding the high commissioners.

How: Changed Subject To Free Trade Agreement Status

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Q4 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Business & Trade
Context

The MP welcomed the Minister's previous comments on innovation and questioned the disconnect between the Minister's Department's words and the Chancellor's decision to cut venture capital trust rate relief.

Question

We all want innovative British companies not just to start up in Britain, but to scale up in Britain, too. I welcome the Minister's previous comments, and actually his enthusiasm, for our most innovative companies. However, he will know that the Chancellor's decision to cut venture capital trust rate relief will be very damaging. How does he explain the disconnect between his Department's words and what the Chancellor is doing?

Answer from Chris Bryant

We are trying very much to focus on the key sectors where we know we can really deliver, which is precisely what bringing together the trade strategy, the small business strategy and the industrial strategy is designed to do. I was delighted to be at the security and policing trade event down in Farnborough yesterday, and it was fascinating to see the small companies—SMEs make up a lot of that sector—that have really been supported by different Departments, including the Home Office, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Treasury, to scale up and take their product to market.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific ask regarding the disconnect.

How: Changed Subject To Other Sectors And Events

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Q5 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Business & Trade
Context

The MP questioned the impact of cutting VCT rate relief and asked for a meeting with the Venture Capital Trust Association to discuss the concerns.

Question

I am grateful to the Minister for that answer, but I asked specifically about VCT rate relief. The last time that rate relief was cut, under the last Labour Government, fundraising was cut by two thirds and it took a decade for that to recover in the sector. Specifically on VCT rate relief, which has been cut from 30% to 20%, will he commit to meeting the Venture Capital Trust Association, the industry body, and will he take its concerns to the Chancellor and ask her to reverse course?

Answer from Chris Bryant

Of course, I am happy to meet the industry body and listen to its concerns, as we do all the time. However, I just want to make the point that at the moment the DBT is concentrating on taking what we do well in this country and really ensuring we have an opportunity to do it even better.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to taking concerns to the Chancellor.

How: Providing General Support Statements Without Specifics

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